Sinn Fein events for 1916 centenary

Sinn Féin’s Barney O’Hagan has announced the setting up of a committee to commemorate the events surrounding the Easter Rising of 1916.

Speaking to the Journal Mr. O’Hagan said: “The Centenary of the 1916 Easter Rising and the Proclamation of the Irish Republic is a time of huge significance for the people of Ireland.

“This is a time for commemoration of those who worked, fought and died for Irish freedom.

“It is a time for celebration of the spirit of freedom and the progressive vision that motivated them.

“It is a time for renewed commitment to the values of the Proclamation: the sovereignty of the Irish people; the unity and independence of Ireland; equal rights and equal opportunities for all the people who share our island,” said Mr. O’Hagan.

He added: “The 1916 Proclamation is a declaration of social and economic intent for a rights-based society in which the people are sovereign. It is a freedom charter for this whole island and all the people who live here.

“However we understand that there are different narratives of the period whether that was Republican, Nationalist or Unionist. We intend to explore the period of the Rising from all political opinions not only from the republican perspective.

“We would like to invite people from all communities to engage with us in order to paint an authentic picture of how the Rising impacted upon the entire city of Derry.

“These events will be dignified and aimed at exploring local history while at the same time seeing how this dovetailed into national Irish history. With these commemorative events we invite people to join with us – not alone in remembering the past but in shaping the new Ireland.”

Anyone who would like to participate or input into the commemorations should contact Barney O’Hagan on 02871 377551.